Roller skate



Nov. 22, 1966 G. K. WARE 3,287,023-

ROLLER SKATE Filed July 16, 1964 K 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Nov. 22, 1966 G. K. WARE 3,287,023

ROLLER SKATE Filed July 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTOR.

United States Patent C) Illinois Filed July 16, 1964, Ser. No. 383,128 8Claims. (Cl. 280--11.2)

This invention relates to a novel skate structure, and more specificallyto a novel roller skate structure.

As will be understo'od, the action and techniques involved -in iceskating are frequently significantly different from those involved inroller skating primarily as the result of the fact that an ice skaterbalances on a relatively narrow edge of a blade and frequently only on alimited area of the blade edge while a roller skater utilizing co'n-Ventionally available skates balances on a relatively 'broad flatplatform provided by four widely spaced wheels having relatively wide atperipheral edges. Thus persons fwho engage in various forms `of iceskating such as racing, figure skating, ice hockey or merely pleasureskating cannot obtain the same action with conventionally availableroller skates. Persons interested in ice skating usually have availableto them a limited season lduring which they can participate in theirchosen sport, which season may be controlled by the weather or thelimited availability of indoor ice skating rinks.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel skatestructure utilizing rollers or wheels constructed and arranged in Iamanner for simulating the act-ion of ice skates.

A futher yobject of the present invention is to provide a novel skatestructure utilizing rollers or wheels, which structure may be adjustedfor enabling a skater to simulate ice skates used for one or moreactivities including racing, hockey and figure skating.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide afnovel skate structure o'f the above-described type which may lbereadily adjusted for fitting a wide variety of shoe sizes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel skatestructure of the above-described type which vis of simple, rugged andeconomical construction.

Other objects 1and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description and the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. l is a side elevational view showing a skate structureincorporating features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan View of the skate structure shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken generally along line3 3 in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views showing the manner inwhich wheel elements of the skate structure function during differentmaneuvers;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing Ithe skate structure -in aposition for enabling a skater to pivot about a desired point;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational View showing a skate structureincorporating a modified form of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the skate structure shown -in FIG.7 in a tilted position for engaging a toe stop element with the iioor;

FIG. 9 is a .fragmentary sectional View taken generally yalong line 9-9in FIG. 10;

AFIG. 9.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts aredesignated 'by the same numerals through- 3,287,023 Patented Nov. 22,1966 ICC out the various figures, a skate structure 20 incorporatingfeatures of the present invention is shown lin FIGS. 1 through I6. Theskate structure comprises opposite side frame means 22 and 24 which arelater-ally spaced apart and preferably have the general configurationand appearance of ice skate blades when viewed from the side. The side.frame means 22 and 24 respectively present forward sole plate flanges26 and 28 and heel plate flanges 30 and 32 .adapted to be riveted orotherwise secured to a Ishoe of known construction, not shown. Ifdesired suitable clamping means, not shown, could be assembled with thesole and heel plate flanges for 4detachably connecting the skatestructure to a shoe.

The side frame means 22 comprises forward and rear frame -memberspresenting longitudinally extending and overlapping blade-like lportions34 and 36. Strut portions 38 extend upwardly from the blade portion 34for supporting the sole plate iiange 26 and similar upstanding strutportions 40 extend from the blade portion 36 to the heel plate flange30. The side frame means 24 is substantially identically but oppositelyconstructed and includes overlapping front and rear blade portions 42and 44 and forward upstanding strut portions 46 supporting the soleplate flange 28 and rearwardly disposed upstanding strut port-ions 48supporting the heel iiange 32.

The skate structure 20 includes a plurality of rollers or wheels 50, 52,54, and 56 which are all arranged in a straight line in a space 58between the side frame means 22 and 24. The wheels are respectivelymounted on axles `60, 62, 64, and 66 extending between the side framemeans and through apertures therein as will be described more fullybelow. The wheels are all of uniform size, shape and structure so thatthey may be interchanged if desired.

As shown best in FIG. 3, each of the wheels comprises an annular disc 68formed of tough, rm but slightly soft and resilient rubber. The outerperiphery 70 of the wheel disc 68 has a substantially semicircularcross-sectional configuration and the inner periphery is mounted on ahub 72 having axially spaced annular surfaces 74 and 76 for cooperativeengagement with annular series of bal-l ybearings 78 and 80. Thelbearings are retained by telescoping and interconnected cone elements82 and 84.

The axle 62 extends through the cone elements 82 and 84 and has anenlarged head 86 at one end thereof andk is adapted to receive a nutmember 88 at its opposite ends for securing the parts in assembledrelationship. It is to be noted that the cone elements 82 and 84 haveintegral portions 90 and 92 projecting beyond opposite sides of thenarrow wheel disc 68 for engaging inner surfaces of the opposite framestructures and maintaining predetermined spaces or clearances 94 and 96between the whee-l disc and the side frame means. As previouslyindicated the remaining wheels are identical to the wheel 52 andtherefore need not be described in detail.

In order to accommodate the axles of the wheels, the side frame means 22and 24 are provided with aligned apertures as shown best in FIGS. 1 and6. More specifically the apertures are closely and preferablysubstantially uniformly spaced along the length of the side frame means22 and 24 for permitting adjustment of the location of the wheels forpurposes mentioned below and the -apertures are arranged into threegroups of apertures 98, 100 and 102. In the embodiment shown, the-re aresix apertures `98 (9S-1 through 98-6) adjacent forward ends of the sideframe means 22 and 24, four apertures 102 (1024 through 102-4) adjacentrear ends of the side frame means and remaining apertures 100 arearranged between the forward and rear groups.

It is important to note that the apertures 100 are formed so that theiraxes are disposed in a first horizontal plane while the apertures 98 and102 are located so that their axes are disposed above the axes of theapertures 100. In this embodiment the axes of apertures 98-1, 98-2 and98-3 are disposed substantially in a second plane inclined with respectto the first mentioned horizontal p-lane so that these apertures areprogressively higher in a rearward direction. The apertures 98-4 and98-5 are preferably in the same horizontal plane as the aperture 98-3.lThe apertures 101-1, 102-2 and V102-3 are also in `an inclined plane,but this plane is disposed so that these apertures progressivelyincrease in height from the trailing end of the skate forwardly. Theaperture 1024 is preferably in the same horizontal plane as the aperture102-3.

The peripheries of the intermediate wheels 52 and S4 project downwardlythe same distance since the axles of these wheels extend throughapertures 100. Furthermore, the peripheries of the intermediate wheel-s52 and S4 project below the peripheries of the opposite end wheels 50and 56 since the axles of the wheels 50 and 56 respectively extendthrough apertures 98 and 102. With this arrangement only two of thewheels will engage the 'ground or iioor at any one time so that during askating :motion Va slight rocking action will be obtained which willsimulate the action of ice skates which are frequently curved at leastslightly upwardly adjacent forward and rear ends thereof. The amount ofrocking action may be adjusted by changing the location of the endwheels 50 and 456 in the apertures 98 and 100 for raising `or loweringthe end wheels with respect to the intermediate wheels. The arrangementis such that upon ti-lting the skates slightly as shown in FIG. 6, onlythe wheel 52 will engage the ground for enabling the skater to pivotabout the single point of engagement provided by the wheel 52. Again,this action is much the same as can be obtained on ice skates.

As previously indicated and as shown best in FIG. 3, the wheels areformed so that their peripheral edges have a semicircularcross-sectional configuration. Also as previously indicated, thematerial from which the wheels 68 are formed is tough and firm, yetresiliently yieldable or soft. More specifically it has been found thatthe rubber material from which the wheels are made preferably has ahardness which may be measured by a Durometer and falls between about 85on the Durometer A scale and 57 on the Durometer D sca-le. This er1-ables the yrubber wheels to resist flattening sufficiently to rolleasily and smoothly while at the same time it enables the peripheraledges of the wheels to flatten slightly under the weight of a skater forproviding a flat spot 104 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 for promotingsufficient frictional engagement or gripping of the floor to resistundue lateral sliding. It will be observed that the flat spot 104 has awidth similar in width to conventional ice-skating blades for enablingthe skate structure further to simuate the action and feel of an iceskate. The semicircular configuration of the peripheral edge enables thefiat spot i104 to move freely across the skate wheel as the skater tiltsthe skate between the vertical position shown in FIG. 4 and an inclinedposition such as that shown in FIG. 5.

As previously indicated, the holes 98, 100l and 102 are preferablyuniformly spaced along the opposite side frames 22 and 24. Thisarrangement permits the overall length of the skate structure to befreely adjusted by removing the intermediate wheels and the axles 62 and64 and relatively longitudinally shifting the forward and -rear portionsof the side frame means relative to each other. When the portions of theside frame means have been adjusted in a desired manner the intermediatewheels are reassembled. Since the axles of the wheels provide the onlymeans securing the side frames together, the front and rear portions ofthe side frarne means may be freely adjusted relative to each other andthe increments of such adjustments are limited only by the spacing ofthe apertures.

The front and back wheels 50 and 56 may be adjusted relative to theintermediate wheels for changing the -operating characteristics of theskate structure in accordance with the desires of a particular skaterand in accordance with the intended use of the skate. For example whenit is desired to simulate the relatively long blade of a racing skate,the wheels should be spaced apart a maximum distance as shown in FIGS. land 6. On the other hand, if it is desired to simulate the action of therelatively short blades of gure skates or hockey skates, one or both ofthe front and rear wheels 50 and 56 may be moved to positions closer tothe intermediate wheels and, if desired, the intermediate wheels may bemoved to positions closer together.

During a skating action and particularly when making turns or jumps, theforces applied to the tough but resilient rubber wheels will cause thewheels to twist relative to their axles and the side frame means 22 and24. In order to prevent the wheels from rubbing against the side framemeans during said twisting, the aforementioned extensions and 92 of thewheel bearing cones are constructed so as to cause the spaces 94 and 96between the wheels and the side frames to be substantial and preferablyto be at least about one-fourth as great as the radial distance of thewheel disc 68 between the hub members 72 and the semicircular marginalportions 70. This arrangement has been found sufic-ient to preventinterference between the wheels and the side frame means without undulyincreasing the overall width of the frame structure.

As shown best in FIG. 2, the rear portions 36 and 44 of the oppositeside frame means are adapted to extend along outer surfaces of theforward portions 42 and 44. Furthermore, the wheels 50, 52 and 54 arenormally positioned between the inner surfaces of the portions 34 and 42while the rear wheel 56 is positioned between inner surfaces of the rearframe means portions 36 and 44. In order to permit the same wheel to beused in all positions, sections 106 and 108 of the frame means portions44 and 46 are offset inwardly for presenting inner sides or surfacesthereof in the same planes as the inner sides or surfaces of the forwardframe means portions 34 and 42. Thus the aforementioned desiredclearances are provided between the offset portions 106 and 108 and therear wheel 56 while at the same time the extensions 90 and 92 of thebearing cone engage the inner surfaces of the frame means sections 106and `108 in the same manner as the corresponding bearing cones of theforwardly positioned wheels engage the inner surfaces of the side framemeans portions 34 and 42.

In FIGS. 6 through 10 a modified embodiment of the present invention isshown, which embodiment is similar to the structure described above asindicated by the application of identical reference numerals with asuffix a added to corresponding elements. This embodiment differs inthat the apertures 98a are successively progressively increasinglyoffset above the horizontal piane containing the axes of the apertures100a in a direction extending from the apertures 100a toward the forwardend of the skate structure. In addition, the apertures 10211 aresuccessively and progressively increasingly offset outwardly from theapertures 10061 in a direction extending toward the rear end of theskate. In other words, the axes of the apertures 98a and 10211 arerespectively disposed in planes inclined upwardly from the horizontalplane containing axes of the apertures 10051. With this arrangement, theskate structure 20a will provide for a uniform rockingA action as theforward and rear wheels are adjusted between successive apertures 98aand 102g. In other words, the same amount of inclination of the skatestructure is required for engaging the wheels 50a and 52a simultaneouslyagainst the ground when the axle of the wheel 50a extends through theaperture 98a closest to the apertures 100:1 as when the axle extendsthrough the outermost aperture 98a.

The skate structure 20a also includes a toe stop assembly 1110. However,it is to be understood that a similar toe stop assembly may beincorporated in the skate structure of the previously describedembodiment, if desired.

The toe stop assembly 110 comprises a friction member 112 molded ofrubber or any other suitable material around metal inserts 114 and 116.The inserts 114 and 116 are adapted to embrace the forward ends of theside frame portions 34a and 42a. Apertures 118 and 120 are providedthrough the inserts L14 and 116 and are located for alignment with oneof the apertures 98a in the opposite side frames and faced rearwardly ofthe forwardmost aperture 98a. Fastening means 122 and 124 in the form ofrivets or screws and complementary nuts extend through the apertures 118and 120 and the aligned apertures in the side frame means for pivotallysecuring the toe stop assembly to the side frame means. As shown in FIG.l0 inner ends of the fastening means 122 and 124 are respectivelysubstantially ush with the inner surfaces of the side frame means forpermitting the wheel 50a to be adjusted forwardly from the positionshown without interference from the fastening means 122 and 124.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 the inserts 114 and 116 have arcuate portions126 and 1128 having the common axis of the apertures 118 and 120 astheir centers of curvature and presenting inner surfaces engageable withthe extreme outer ends of the frame means portions 34a and 42a. Thus theframe means portions provide rigid abutments engageable with and backingup the inserts of the toe stop member while at the same time the toestop structure may be pivoted about the axis of the apertures 118 and120 for adjusting an eccentric portion 130 of the friction member =112toward or away from the floor. In order to secure the toe stop assemblyin a desired adjusted position, a bolt 132 extends through theforwardmost aperture 98a in the opposite side frame means and alsothrough arcuate slots 134 and 136 in the inserts 114 and 116. A nut 138is assembled with the bolt `and is adapted to be tightened for clampingthe toe stop assembly in the desired adjusted position. It will beobserved that when the skate is tilted in the manner shown in FIG. 8 thetoe stop friction member is engaged against the floor. The degree towhich the skate structure must be tilted for accomplishing such anengagement may be changed hy adjusting the position of the toe stopfriction member.

While -the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described herein, it is lobvious that many structural detailsmay be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A skate structure comprising spaced apart longitudinally extendingopposite side frame means respectively including overlapping relativelyadjustable forward and rear longitudinally extending portions, saidopposite side frame means having a first group of aligned aperturestherein adjacent a forward end thereof, a second group of alignedapertures therein intermediate opposite ends thereof, and a third groupof aligned apertures therein adjacent a rear end thereof, said aperturesbeing spaced from each other longitudinally of said frame means, a

plurality of wheels disposed between said opposite side frame means andspaced longitudinally thereof, and axle means extending through alignedapertures in said opposite side frame means and through said wheels andsupporting said. Wheels and securing said opposite side frame meanstogether, certain of said axle means extending through apertures inoverlapping parts of said forwardV and rear portions of the side framemeans and providing the only means connecting the forward and rearportions together.

2. A skate structure, as defined in claim 1, wherein at least two ofsaid axle means extend through spaced sets of aligned apertures in theoverlapping parts of the forward and rear portions of the opposite sideframe means.

3. A skate structure, as defined in claim 1, wherein the apertures ofsaid second group of apertures are disposed with their axessubstantially in a first generally horizontal plane and the apertures ofsaid firstand third group of apertures are disposed with their axes inplanes offset upwardly from said first mentioned plane.

4. A skate structure, as defined in claim 3, wherein said last mentionedplanes are inclined upwardly and lrespectively rearwardly and forwardlyfrom said first plane.

5. A skate structure, as defined in claim 3, wherein said last mentionedplanes are inclined upwardly and respectively forwardly and rearwardlyfrom said first mentioned plane.

6. A skate structure, as defined in claim 1, which includes a stopmember of tough, resilient friction material mounted on forward ends ofsaid opposite side frame means.

7. A skate structure, as defined in claim 6, which includes meansadjustably securing said stop member on said side frame means forselectively positioning the stop member at different elevations.

8. A skate structure, as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said wheelscomprises a hub portion and an annular disc of firm, tough and resilientmaterial on said hub portion, said disc of each of said wheels having aperipheral edge portion of rounded cross section and a predeterminedradial extent between said peripheral edge portion and its associatedhub portion, said skate structure including means extending between saidWheels and said opposite side frame means and maintaining clearancesbetween said opposite side frame means and said discs of the Wheels forpreventing interference between the wheel discs and the side frame meansin the event of deflection of the wheel discs under skating conditions,and each of said means maintaining said clearances having a width equalto about one-fourth of said radial extent of the wheel discs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,527,840 2/1925Chomin 280-11.22 1,728,063 9/1929 James 2801l.23 2,048,916 7/1936Bentzlin 280-1122 2,664,317 12/1953 Glynn et al. SOI-5.3

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

MILTON L. SMITH, Examiner.

1. A SKATE STRUCTURE COMPRISING SPACED APART LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDINGOPPOSITE SIDE FRAME MEANS RESPECTIVELY INCLUDING OVERLAPPED RELATIVELYADJUSTABLE FORWARD AND REAR LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTIONS, SAIDOPPOSITE SIDE FRAME MEANS HAVING A FIRST GROUP OF ALIGNED APERTURESTHEREIN ADJACENT A FORWARD END THEREOF, A SECOND GROUP OF ALIGNEDAPERTURES THEREIN INTERMEDIATE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, AND A THIRD GROUPOF ALIGNED APERTURES THEREIN ADJACENT A REAR END THEREOF, SAID APERTURESBEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID FRAME MEANS, APLURALITY OF WHEELS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID OPPOSITE SIDE FRAME MEANS ANDSPACED LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, AND AXLE MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH ALIGNEDAPERTURES IN SAID OPPOSITE SIDE FRAME MEANS AND THROUGH SAID WHEELS ANDSUPPORTING SAID WHEELS AND SECURING SAID OPPOSITE SIDE FRAME MEANSTOGETHER, CERTAIN OF SAID AXLE MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH APERTURES INOVERLAPPING PARTS OF SAID FORWARD AND REAR PORTIONS OF THE SIDE FRAMEMEANS AND PROVIDING THE ONLY MEANS CONNECTING THE FORWARD AND REARPORTIONS TOGETHER.